Taylor Lewis, JC All-American defensive lineman, commits to Arkansas Razorbacks

Class of 2022 College of Canyons defensive lineman Taylor Lewis waited a long time for his recruitment to pop.

Despite earning All-American honors. the 6-foot-3, 300-pound versatile defensive lineman didn't have many Power 5 conference offers until this month. 

Then, his stock took off.

"I would be wrong if I said I was surprised," Lewis said. "I believe heavily in God, because I've been through worse situations. I was delivered from those situations. This wasn't one where I gave up, it was just a matter of when and who. But I couldn't quite imagine what it was going to be." 

The defensive lineman, who has two years of eligibility remaining, added Power 5 offers from Washington State and Oregon State, then Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas and Auburn.

On Tuesday, he put an end to his recruitment, committing to the Arkansas Razorbacks:

"I'm going to the University of Arkansas," he said. "It's in the SEC. It gives me the best chance to get to the league, and it gives me the best chances to play because of their need at my position." 

He's hoping the SEC affords him the opportunity to show people what he can do on a football field. 

"Man it's almost like a dream come true," he said. "That's all I ever really wanted - the platform to show everybody in the world who I am, because I've been playing well my whole life." 

But the decision to go to Arkansas nearly didn't happen.

Trying to put an end to his recruitment to prepare for the upcoming fall season, Lewis initially set an official visit to Oregon State with the intent to lock in his commitment.

"Most definitely, when Oregon State hit me I though that was going to be the place," he said. 

But in the time between his offer and taking the visit, multiple new schools entered the mix.

Lewis set two more visits, the first being Arkansas.

After that trip, there was no need to take any others. 

"I planned my visits strategically," he said. "Before I went to Arkansas I was going to take another visit, but my visit to Arkansas sealed the deal." 

Lewis projects as an immediate upgrade to the depth along the Arkansas defensive line - with a chance to earn immediate (and significant) playing time.

Last season in six games, he accumulated 18 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up. 

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